Soil separation channel for dishwasher pump system

ABSTRACT

A soil separator for a dishwasher includes a centrifugal soil collection wall surrounded by a spill over guide channel, surrounded by a shallow annular soil accumulator channel. The soil accumulator channel is open to the dishwasher chamber but covered by a filter screen. The accumulator channel is shallow beneath the screen and empties downwardly into an accumulator sump where accumulated soil is periodically drained. The shallow accumulator channel allows water to flush an inside of the screen to carry soil to the accumulator sump.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.:60/003,275 filed Aug. 25, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a soil separator for a dishwasherand particularly an arrangement between a soil separator chamber and asoil accumulator chamber which provides an improved apparatus and methodfor collecting and filtering soil from dishwasher water.

A known arrangement for removing soil from dishwasher water is describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,433. This apparatus includes a combinationmotor-pump and soil separator assembly. The motor-pump assembly includesa wash impeller, which operates within a pump cavity located within thesoil separator. As the impeller operates in a wash or rinse mode, aswirling motion is created in the wash liquid passing through the pumpcavity, thereby creating a centrifugally sampled annular layer of washliquid on the annular interior wall. A portion of the wash liquid havinga high concentration of entrained soil (food particles, etc.) passesover an upper edge of the annular interior wall and into an annularguide chamber.

Wash liquid from this guide chamber travels to an annular soilcollection chamber at a high flow rate. This high flow rate is achievedby use of a relatively small aperture located in a lower portion of theannular wall separating the guide chamber and the soil collectionchamber. Upon entering the soil collection chamber, wash liquid flowsoutwardly and upwardly through a screen which separates the water fromthe soil. The wash liquid is prevented from draining out of the soilcollection chamber by a ball check valve seated within a drain port. Thescreen contains an annular arrangement of fine mesh filters, whichprevent soil particles entrained in the wash liquid from reentering thedishwasher space. The cleansed wash liquid returns to the dishwasherfloor where it is picked up by the motor driven pump for recirculationwithin the dishwasher.

Typically, the apparatus such as described above allows water to passthrough the hole between the guide channel and the collector chamber ata rate of about 4 gallons per minute. This flow rate can cause theheavily concentrated mixture of soil and water within the accumulatorchamber to be agitated, preventing soils from readily settling. Withthis flow rate and configuration, there may be a tendency for themechanical filter to clog even though back wash nozzles for spraying thefilter from above are provided. Collecting soil at these flow ratescause filter screens with a 0.0049 inch mesh to have a tendency to clog.It was necessary to increase screen mesh to 0.0079 inch to prevent thisclogging. However, the larger mesh screen allowed soils of largerparticle size to escape through the screen and may be seen as “grit” onthe dishes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dishwasher soilcollection system which is compatible with a high flow rate soil removaldishwasher while at the same time allowing for adequate screening ofsoil in the dish water return to the dish compartment in a recirculatingdish water system. It is an object of the invention to provide a moreefficient method of soil collection and retention while reducing waterand energy usage.

The objects are inventively achieved in that an annular soil separatorwall is provided around the dish washer pump for accumulating solids bycentrifugal action, a soil guide channel is provided surrounding theseparator wall, and a shallow soil accumulator channel or “screeningchannel”, substantially annular, is arranged beneath the filter screensurrounding the soil guide channel. The soil accumulator channel is flowconnected to the guide channel by a vertical tube at a first closed endof the channel and the channel surrounds the guide channel to an openchannel end which empties, to an accumulator sump having a drain portclosed by a ball check valve. Water and soil proceed around theaccumulator channel, soil is retained beneath the filter screen andwater proceeds through the filter screen. Back wash nozzles are providedto wash the filter screen of soil from a dish compartment side of thefilter screen. Thus, by directing inlet water from the guide channel tothe shallow accumulator channel, the inside of the filter screen iswashed by the water, while the outside of the screen is washed by thebackwash nozzles above. Therefore, food particles which are temporarilydislodged from the screen by the backwash nozzles may not immediatelyreturn to the screen after the backwash nozzle passes, due to thedirection of flow on an inside surface of the filter screen from thewater flowing inside the accumulator channel.

Inlet water flow into the accumulator channel is directed in acirculatory path and kept in the shallow accumulator channel in closeproximity with the screen. As particles are dislodged by the backwashnozzles, they are moved around toward the stagnant soil accumulatorsump. The sump is located away from the accumulator channel water inletand therefore, more isolated and stagnant, allowing soil to settle. Thisis due to the fact that water and soil lose velocity as they approachthe accumulator sump while most of the water escapes through the screen.The accumulator sump can be configured more compact when using theshallow accumulator channel of the present invention. The physicalconfiguration of the system reduces water held in the accumulator by 60%or greater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher including a soil separatorin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the soil separator having the wash arm assemblyremoved therefrom and with a portion of the soil separator screen cutaway;

FIG. 3 is a diametric section of the soil separator including the washarm assembly taken generally along line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the soil separator taken generally alongline IV—IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an accumulator chamber grating; and

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken generally along VI—VI of FIG.2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the invention as shown in the drawings, andparticularly as shown in FIG. 1, an automatic dishwasher generallydesignated 10 includes an interior tank wall 12 defining a dishwashingspace 14. A soil separator 20 is centrally located in floor 21 and has alower wash arm assembly 22 extending form an upper portion thereof.Coarse particle grate 24 permits wash liquid to flow from floor 21 tosoil separator 20, while preventing foreign objects, such as apricotpits and pop tops, from inadvertently entering soil separator 20.

The basic constructional features of the soil separator are explained inU.S. Pat. No. 5,165,433 herein incorporated by reference. Referring nowto FIG. 3, the soil separator and pump assembly generally comprises amotor 27 having an output shaft 29 secured to base plate 30 by bolts 32.The motor 27 is a reversing motor which normally operates in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 2. When operated in a clockwise direction,such as in a wash mode or a rinse mode, the motor 27 provides a pumpingaction within soil separator 20, thereby providing pressurized washliquid to lower wash arm assembly 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, lower wash arm assembly 22 includes a central hub 33having a plurality of wash arms 35 extending radially therefrom. Eachwash arm 35 includes one or more upwardly directed spray nozzles 38 fordirecting wash liquid upwardly within dishwashing space 14, and one ormore downwardly directed spray nozzle 40 for providing a back-washingaction, as will become apparent. Liquid passageway 42 in central hub 33permits pressurized wash liquid to flow to the lower wash arm assembly22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the soil separator 20 further includes an annularcover 44 which is disposed over and secured to soil container wall 48 byscrews 50. When in place, cover 44 and soil container wall 48 combine toform a low-pressure water seal, preventing leakage of watertherebetween. Cover 44 includes a series of fine mesh filter segments 52which are radially disposed about a central axis of the cover. Fine meshfilter segments 52 are preferably formed of a synthetic material such asnylon or polyester and have a mesh on the order of 0.0049″ to 0.0106″.Depending on the material desired to be filtered, however, a larger orsmaller mesh filter may be used.

Referring back to FIG. 3, located radially inwardly from the fine meshfilter segments 52 and depending downwardly from cover 44 is an annularlip 54. Annular lip 54 forms a high-pressure seal in combination with anupstanding annular wall 56, as will become apparent.

Further located radially inwardly from the annular lip 54 of the cover44 is a downwardly depending annular wall 68. Annular wall 68 defines acentrally located interior area containing a plurality of vanes fordirecting pressurized wash liquid.

In the embodiment shown, water flows upward in passages 70 and intopassages 73 into wash arms 35. Water also flows into a channel pipe 75to be directed vertically to feed an upper wash arm (not shown). The hub33 holds the arms 35. The channel pipe 75 penetrates the hub 33. Arubber boot 77 is fastened to hub 33 and is open at a bottom thereof andhas an aperture 77a for passing water therethrough. A retainer ring 78with external threads 78a screws into the channel pipe 75 at internalthreads 75a to retain the boot 77.

Under water pressure, the boot 77 seals against an upstanding tower (notshown) attached to the bottom rack (not shown) for delivery of water tothe upper wash arm (not shown).

Although a top delivery of water to the upper wash arm is described,water can be delivered to the upper wash arm by a pipe such as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,433. Alternately, a pipe or channel can bearranged from the passages 70 for supplying water to the upper arms andthe channel can be located above the screen elements 52 extendingradially from the hub 33 on the floor 21 of the dish compartment.

Referring to FIG. 3, it may be seen that lower wash arm assembly 22 isfreely rotatably mounted about a seal ring 74. A filter guard 80 ismounted to wash arms 35 by screws 81. Filter guard 80 overlies the finemesh filter segments 52 of cover 44, protecting fine mesh filtersegments 52 from damage caused by falling utensils or tableware. Inoperation, pressurized wash liquid flows past into wash arms 35.Upwardly directed nozzles 38 are positioned on wash arms 35 so as toprovide a chordally directed thrust, causing lower wash arm assembly 22to rotate about the seal ring 74 when pressurized wash liquid is pumpedthrough nozzles 38.

As lower wash arm assembly 22 rotates, pressurized wash liquid isemitted from downwardly directed nozzles 40. A deflector tab 84integrally formed as part of filter guard 80 is disposed directlybeneath each nozzle 40, impinging on the flow of wash liquid emittedtherefrom. As the flow of water from each nozzle 40 strikes theassociated deflector tab 84, a fan-shaped spray is formed. Eachfan-shaped spray sweeps the top of the fine mesh filter segments 52 aslower wash arm assembly 22 rotates, thereby providing a back-washingaction to keep fine mesh filter segments 52 clear of soil particleswhich may impede the flow of cleansed wash liquid into dishwashing space14.

The wash impeller 60 is located within pump cavity 86. Pump cavity 86 isgenerally defined by the soil separator lower housing wall 88, an insideupstanding annular wall 90, and cover 44.

Wash impeller 60 is secured to the output shaft 29 of pump motor 27 byimpeller retaining bolt 92, and pumps wash liquid when in operation. Themajority of the pressurized wash liquid enters the area beneath thecover 44 defined by downwardly depending annular wall 68, and isdirected to the lower wash arm and to the upper wash arm. Under normaloperating conditions, flow of pressurized wash liquid is provided to thelower wash arm and to the upper wash arm.

During normal operation, a third portion of the wash liquid ismaintained within the soil separator to be cleansed and returned tocirculation. In pump cavity 86, a portion of the wash liquid having ahigh concentration of entrained soil tends to accumulate on the insideupstanding annular wall 90. The swirling motion of the liquid tends tocarry the soil upwardly over the upper edge 97 of wall 90, whereupon thesoil-laden liquid collects within annular guide chamber 100 definedbetween the inside upstanding annular wall 90 and the outside upstandingannular wall 56. Undesirable pressure loss within the annular guidechamber 100 is prevented by forming a relatively water-tight, highpressure seal at the juncture of cover 44 and the outside upstandingannular wall 56.

As shown in FIG. 4, soil laden water flows through an inlet 102 into atube 104 and upward through a hole 106 into soil accumulation channel110.

Although a relatively tall wall 90 is shown, it is possible tosignificantly shorten the wall 90 and the wall 56 and correspondinglyalso lower the channel 110 and still retain effective soil separation.The tube 104 can become shorter and in effect become a nearly horizontalpassage into the channel 110.

In operation the soil laden water proceeds through the hole 106 andproceeds in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2. Water passes upwardlythrough the screen segments 52 and the soil proceeds to the accumulatorsump 120 at the second end 118. As the water proceeds around the soilseparation channel its velocity slows and soil settles out into the sump120.

By maintaining a shallow soil separation channel 11 0 under screensegments 52, from the tube 104 to the sump 120, any clogging of thescreen segments 52 on an inside thereof can be effectively alleviated.When the backwash nozzle 40 passes, soil is back washed away from thescreen, and water passing within the channel 110 moves the soil towardthe sump 120 and prevents repositioning of the soil against the screensegments 52.

Fine mesh filter segments 52 in cover 44 permit flow of cleansed washliquid to return to dishwasher space 14 for recirculation. Light soilparticles are screened by fine mesh filter segments 52 and retained insoil accumulator sump 120. Accordingly, both heavy and light soilparticles remain within the soil accumulator sump 120.

FIG. 6 illustrates the soil accumulator channel 110 beginning at thewall 116 and terminating at the end 118. The sump 120 is defined bywalls 56, 48 and side walls 122, 124. Soil 126 is collected within thesump 120 on the floor 127 and expelled during the drain cycle throughthe drain port 128.

When operated in a wash or rinse mode, the dishwasher functions as acontinuous fluid circuit. In a wash mode, for example, wash liquid flowsfrom dishwashing space 14 to dishwasher floor 21 and is gravity-fed tocoarse particle grate 24. Wash liquid flows past heating unit 130 tosoil separator 20, where it is drawn inwardly by negative pressurecreated by impeller 60. Wash liquid flows over sealing ring 186, which,in combination with floor 21 and retainer ring 188, serve to support andseal the soil separator and pump assembly within the dishwasher. Washliquid continues to flow horizontally and inwardly over base plate 30,until encountering soft soil chopper 190.

As may best be observed in FIG. 3, soft soil chopper 190 is located onmotor shaft 29 and rotates therewith to macerate large soft soilparticles which travel past grate 195. Torsion spring 192 both supportsand drives chopper 190, urging chopper 190 upwardly against collar 194,which in turn is held in place on output shaft 29 by a downwardlydepending shoulder of wash impeller 60.

After passing soft soil chopper 190, wash liquid is drawn through grate195 and further upwardly into pump cavity 86 by wash impeller 60. Washimpeller 60 imparts a swirling motion to the wash liquid, forcing amajority of the wash liquid upwardly to the lower wash arm and to theupper wash arm. Wash liquid sprayed from upwardly directed spray nozzles38, downwardly directed spray nozzles 40 and cleansed wash liquidemitted from fine mesh filter segments 52 into dishwashing space 14returns to floor 21 to be recycled.

Due to centrifugal force acting on the swirling liquid in pump cavity86, the remainder of the wash liquid forms a band or layer on theinterior of inside upstanding annular wall 90. This band of wash liquidcontains a heavy concentration of entrained soil particles having arelatively high specific gravity, which tend to be forced outwardly bycentrifugal force. This band of wash liquid also contains approximatelythe same concentration of soil particles having a relatively lowspecific gravity representative as the wash liquid as a whole.

As soil-laden wash liquid flows around soil accumulator channel 110, itsvelocity is reduced, permitting heavy soil particles to collect in sump120 on lower housing wall 127. As the clockwise rotation of washimpeller 60 forces soil-laden wash liquid into soil accumulator channel110, clockwise rotation of drain impeller 206, as shown in FIG. 5,causes a clockwise flow of wash liquid within drain pump chamber 208.

Pressure created by wash liquid flow within drain pump chamber 208causes ball check valve 210 to rise from a resting position on ballcheck valve support 211 to a seated position on the bottom side of soilcontainer drain port 128, as shown in FIG. 3. When so positioned, ballcheck valve 210 prevents flow of accumulated soil particles and washliquid therethrough. Check valve 214 located in line with and downstreamof a drain port 216 prevents air from entering the drain port duringoperation of drain impeller 206 in a clockwise direction.

Upon completion of a wash or a rinse cycle, a drain cycle is initiated.At that time, pump motor 27 is reversed, causing drain impeller 206 torotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as when viewed from a top viewas shown in FIG. 2. Drain impeller 206 causes negative pressure to beapplied within conduit 220, which causes ball check valve 210 to fallaway from soil container drain port 128. Soil-laden water andaccumulated soil within soil accumulator sump 120 is rapidly pumped outby drain impeller 206, and expelled through drain port 216. In addition,drain impeller 206 is further in fluid connection with floor 21. Wash orrinse liquid draining from soil separator 20 accumulates on base plate30, and is pumped out through drain port 216 along with liquid fromfloor 21. Accordingly, when operated in a counterclockwise direction,drain impeller 206 rapidly and effectively drains soil separator 20.

An alternate further embodiment (not shown) includes providing that aplate 108which is substantially annular with a plurality of spaced apartslotsand that the. The sump 120 is also annularly shaped and is arrangedbelow and coextensive with said plate 108. Soil accumulated on saidplate passes through said slots to settle to the sump below where a port128 operates during the claim cycle as described above.

A further alternate embodiment (not shown) provides that two sumps, suchas the sump 120 be provided below the plate 108 substantially located at180° diametrically opposed, and that 180° of the cover 44 be fine meshscreen elements and 180° of the cover 44 be coarse mesh screen elements.The screening channel is divided into two sub channels, a fine screeningchannel (0.0049″ mesh) and a coarse screening channel (0.0079″ mesh).When the fine screening channel is sufficiently clogged to cause apredetermined back pressure, a valve means opens the fine screeningchannel to the coarse screening channel to allow soil laden water to atleast be coarse screened. As described above, the fine and coarsescreening channels are arranged to be shallow to allow soil to be washedfrom inside the screens.

Both of these alternate developments are the subject of other patentapplications.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to aspecific embodiment, those of skill in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A soil separator for adishwasher comprising: a cylindrical wall; a water impeller arranged forrotation within said cylindrical wall; a shallow arcuate channel coveredby a screen and flow connected to the area within the cylindrical wall;a guide channel surrounding said cylindrical wall between saidcylindrical wall and said shallow arcuate channel and said cylindricalwall comprises a height providing a spill over into said guide channel:an inlet tube from said guide channel into said shallow arcuate channel;and a soil accumulation area for collecting soil from the water, flowconnected to said shallow arcuate channel.
 2. The soil separatoraccording to claim 1, wherein said shallow arcuate channel comprises asubstantially annular horizontal plate surrounding said guide channelelevated from a bottom of said guide channel, and said screen comprisesa substantially annular horizontal screen arranged above said plate. 3.The soil separator according to claim 1, wherein said guide channelcomprises an outer wall surrounding said cylindrical wall with anaperture flow connected to said inlet tube, said inlet tube located atone end of said shallow arcuate channel and said accumulator sumplocated at an opposite end.
 4. A centrifugal soil separator, comprising:a rotating element; a surrounding wall; an outlet water conduitreceiving water flow from said rotating element; a soil/water flowchannel receiving water with entrained soil from adjacent saidsurrounding wall; a soil screening channel having a screen element on atop side thereof for passing water therethrough while retaining soilbelow, said screening channel surrounding said surrounding wall, saidsoil/water flow channel flow connected to a first end of said screeningchannel; and a soil accumulator sump flow connected to a second end ofsaid screening channel; and means for draining soil from saidaccumulator sump.
 5. The soil separator according to claim 4, whereinsaid soil/water flow channel comprises an outer wall surrounding saidsurrounding wall and an open top annular gap provided between saidsurrounding and outer walls, and a vertical tube connecting said annulargap and said screening channel.
 6. The soil separator according to claim5, wherein said screening channel is formed by a substantially annularshaped plate mounted beneath an annular screening member, saidsubstantially annular shaped plate having an aperture connected to saidvertical tube, and a opening above said accumulation sump.
 7. The soilseparator according to claim 6, wherein said means for drainingcomprises a drain port closed by a ball check valve.
 8. A dishwashersoil separator comprising: a rotating wash impeller; a circularsurrounding wall; a outlet water conduit receiving water flow from saidrotating impeller; a soil/water flow channel receiving water withentrained soil from adjacent said surrounding wall; a soil screeningchannel with a soil/water inlet end having an end wall and outlet endhaving a discharge opening, and having a screen element on a top sidethereof for passing water therethrough while retaining soil below, saidscreening channel surrounding said surrounding wall, said soil/waterflow channel flow connected to said inlet end of said screening channel;and a soil accumulator sump flow connected to said outlet end of saidscreening channel; and means for draining soil from said accumulatorsump.
 9. The soil separator according to claim 8, wherein saidsoil/water flow channel comprises an outer wall surrounding saidsurrounding wall forming a guide channel therebetween and a spill overwater path provided between said surrounding and outer walls, and avertical tube connecting said guide channel and said screening channel.10. The soil separator according to claim 9, wherein said screeningchannel is formed by a substantially annular shaped plate mountedbeneath an annular screening member holding said screen clement, saidsubstantially annular shaped plate having an aperture connected to saidvertical tube, and said discharge opening is located above saidaccumulation sump allowing soil to pass downwardly through said opening.11. The soil separator according to claim 8, wherein said means fordraining comprises a drain port closed by a ball check valve.
 12. Acentrifugal soil separator, comprising: a rotating element; asurrounding wall; an outlet water conduit receiving water flow from saidrotating element; a soil screen channel having a screen element on a topside thereof for passing water therethrough while retaining soil below,said soil screen channel having a first end and a second end whereinsaid first end of said soil screen channel receives water flow from saidrotating element; a soil accumulator sump flow connected to said secondend of said soil screen channel; and means for draining soil from saidaccumulator sump.
 13. The soil separator according to claim 12, furthercomprising a channel flow connected between said surrounding wall andsaid first end of said soil screen channel.
 14. The soil separatoraccording to claim 12 comprising an inlet tube connected to said firstend of said soil screen channel and wherein water flow from saidrotating element is directed into said soil screen channel through saidinlet tube.
 15. A centrifugal soil separator, comprising: a pump cavity;a wash impeller arranged for rotation within said pump cavity; an outletwater conduit receiving water flow from said pump cavity; a soil screenchannel having a screen element on a top side thereof for passing watertherethrough while retaining soil below, said soil screen channel havinga first end and a second end wherein said first end of said soil screenchannel receives water flow from said pump cavity; a soil accumulatorsump flow connected to said second end of said soil screen channel; andmeans for draining soil from said accumulator sump.
 16. The centrifugalsoil separator according to claim 15, further wherein said pump cavityhas an inlet through which liquid is drawn by said wash impeller and asecondary outlet, wherein wash liquid is pumped out of said pump cavitythrough said outlet water conduit and through said second outlet, saidsoil screen channel receiving water flow passing from the pump cavitythrough said secondary outlet.
 17. The centrifugal soil separatoraccording to claim 15, further comprising a channel flow connectedbetween said pump cavity and said first end of said soil screen channel.18. The centrifugal soil separator according to claim 15 further whereinan inlet tube is connected to said first end of said soil screen channeland wherein water flow from said pump cavity is directed into said soilscreen channel through said inlet tube.
 19. A centrifugal soilseparator, comprising: a pump cavity having an inlet, a primary outletand a secondary outlet; a wash impeller arranged for rotation withinsaid pump cavity; a soil screen channel having a screen element on a topside thereof for passing water therethrough while retaining soil below,said soil screen channel having a first end and a second end whereinsaid first end of said soil screen channel receives water flow from saidpump cavity through the second outlet; a soil accumulator sump flowconnected to said second end of said soil screen channel, said soilaccumulator sump having a bottom drain port closed by a check ball; adrain pump chamber fluidly connected to said drain port of said soilaccumulator sump; and a drain impeller disposed within said drain pumpchamber for drawing water with entrained soils from said soilaccumulator sump through said drain port.
 20. The soil separatoraccording to claim 19, further comprising: a conduit extending betweensaid drain port of said soil accumulator sump and said drain pumpchamber, wherein said check ball is disposed within said conduit, saidcheck ball is seated in said drain port when said drain impeller isoperated in a first direction and falls away from said drain port whensaid drain impeller is operated in a second direction.
 21. The soilseparator according to claim 19 further wherein an inlet tube isconnected to said first end of said soil screen channel and whereinwater flow through said secondary outlet is directed into said soilscreen channel through said inlet tube.
 22. A centrifugal soilseparator, comprising: a rotating element; a surrounding wall; an outletwater conduit flow connected to said rotating element; a soil screenchannel surrounding the surrounding wall and having a screen element ona top side thereof, said rotating element flow connected to an inlet ofsaid soil screen channel; a soil accumulator sump flow connected to anoutlet of said soil screen channel; and a drain port in said accumulatorsump.
 23. The centrifugal soil separator according to claim 22, furthercomprising a channel flow connected between said rotating element andsaid first end of said screening channel.
 24. The centrifugal soilseparator according to claim 23, wherein said channel has an arcuateshape and extends around an outside of said surrounding wall.
 25. Adishwasher soil separator, comprising: a pump cavity; a wash impellerarranged for rotation within said pump cavity; a soil accumulationchannel flow connected to receive liquid from said pump cavity andhaving a fluid filter at a fluid outlet and further having a floor; asump fluidly connected to the soil accumulation channel and extendingbelow said floor of said soil accumulation channel; and a drain openingin said sump.
 26. The dishwasher soil separator of claim 25, wherein afirst end of said soil accumulation channel is fluidly connected to saidpump cavity, and a second end of said soil accumulation channel isfluidly connected to said sump.
 27. A dishwasher soil accumulator,comprising: an arcuate top wall having a filter outlet; an arcuatebottom wall below said top wall; inner and outer walls connected to saidtop and bottom walls; a soil accumulating space defined by said top,bottom, inner side and outer side walls; an accumulator inlet flowconnected to said soil accumulating space; a soil outlet open to thesoil accumulating space; and a chamber flow connected to said soiloutlet and extending downward from the soil outlet, said chamber havinga drain port.
 28. The dishwasher soil accumulator of claim 27, furthercomprising an upstanding wall inside of said dishwashing soilaccumulator, said accumulator inlet and said soil outlet being onopposite sides of said upstanding wall.
 29. A method of separating soilfrom water in a dishwasher comprising the steps of: drawing soilentrained water into a pump cavity; flowing soil entrained water into achannel from said pump cavity; filtering the soil entrained water andflowing the filtered water out of said channel; moving at least some ofthe soil retained in said channel from said channel to a sump; andpreventing removal of soil and water from said sump and said channelthrough a drain opening in said sump by closing said drain opening. 30.A method of flowing water having soil through a dishwasher soilseparator, comprising the steps of: drawing soil entrained water into apump cavity; passing soil entrained water from said pump cavity into asoil accumulation channel; flowing water and soil inside of said soilaccumulation channel in a horizontal path; flowing water out of saidsoil accumulation channel while removing at least some soil from thewater and retaining the removed soil inside of said soil accumulationchannel; flowing at least some water and heavier-than-water soil frominside of said soil accumulation channel vertically downwardly into achamber having a drain; and holding the at least some heavier-than-watersoil inside said chamber until said dishwasher soil separator is placedin a drain mode.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the flowingvertically downward step further comprises the step of flowing the atleast some water and heavier-than-water-soil through a lower outlet insaid accumulation channel and into said chamber, said chamber having aclosed drain port.
 32. A dishwasher soil separator comprising: a pumphaving a primary outlet and a secondary outlet; a soil accumulatorhaving an inlet fluidly connected to the secondary outlet of the pump,the soil accumulator having a filtered outlet and a non-filtered outlet:a drain port fluidly connected to the non-filtered outlet of the soilaccumulator and spaced vertically downward away from the non-filteredoutlet of the soil accumulator; and a ball check valve below the drainport.
 33. The dishwasher soil separator of claim 32, further comprisinga sump fluidly connected to the non-filtered outlet of the soilaccumulator, the drain port located at a lower portion of the sump. 34.The dishwasher soil separator of claim 32, further comprising a wallwhich extends from the non-filtered outlet downward to a floor havingthe drain port.
 35. The dishwasher soil separator of claim 32, whereinthe inlet and the non-filtered outlet are located at opposite endportions of the soil accumulator.
 36. A centrifugal soil separatoraccording to claim 12, further comprising a channel having an inletopening adjacent said surrounding wall and an outlet opening at saidfirst end of said soil screen channel.
 37. A centrifugal soil separatoraccording to claim 15, further comprising a channel having an inletopening at said pump cavity and an outlet opening at said first end ofsaid soil screen channel.
 38. A dishwasher soil separator according toclaim 25, further comprising a channel having an in let opening at saidpump cavity and an outlet opening at said soil accumulation channel. 39.A dishwasher solid accumulator according to claim 32, further comprisinga channel having an inlet opening at said secondary outlet and an outletopening at said soil accumulator inlet.